Writing pen



March 26, 1940. P. CHOUFFET WRITING PEN Filed April 23, 1938 4sheetssheei l El za E v w F B F N R E0 0 W M {ALMA E R E P P. CHOUFFETWRITING PEN Filed April 23, 1938 March 26, .1940.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 'l NVE NTO R PIERRE CHOUFFEZT DYWgZZL M o NEys March26, 1940.

P. cHou FFET WRITING PEN Filed April 23, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Rw /0 5 Cm m TF N NU R 50 O VH ,T w N E R R E P March 26, 1940. P. CHOUFFETWRITING PEN Filed April 23, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 :NvENTog PIERRECHOUFFE. B mfimi ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 26, 1940 v mrrso STATES ATENTorricr;

Application April 23, 1938, Serial No."203 ,783 In Belgium April 27,1937 l Claims. (01. 120 114) The present invention relates to pens ofall 0. Ink is conveyed to the under surface of the kinds and especially,although not exclusively, marking pad through a hole or (in the case ofthose employed by industrial and advertisement a pen of large size)several holes, provided draughtsmen for tracing letters or ornamentsthrough the tracing end so as to :connect the 5 made of simple ormultiple-parallel lines and under face thereof with said reserve. These5 also for forming by pressure of'the pen nib on holes are perpendicularto the surface to be the paper all kinds of signs or ornaments. markedand their diameter is proportional to the In order to obtain thisresult, whichcalls for viscosity of the liquid that is employed and toan important flow of ink, continuous and withthe thickness of the lineto be traced (without out the necessity of frequent refilling, twochiefhowever reaching a size such than capillary 10 difficulties are to beovercome, to wit: phenomenons are eliminated,

1. That inherent in the factthat the pen (2. I create a film of liquidconnecting the resshould be able of maintaining a substantial reervoirof the pen to the outflow orificesofj the serve of liquid (ink or paint)exerting only a tracing part, by placing above the latter a screennegligible pressure on the part in oontact with of a directionsubstantially at right anglesto the l6 paper (too high a pressure wouldproduce an acaxes of the holes. This screen, which is nearly cumulationof ink andstainsh in contact withthe orifices, forms with the bot- Thatdue to the adjustment of the ink flow, tom of the cavity which containsthe reserve of which is to be proportional to the thickness of liquid, avery sharp dihedral angle the apex of the line to be traced. whichcoincides with'the endof the tracing part. 20

The object of the present invention is to pro- This screen establishesthe neccessary connecvide a pen which avoids these difficulties. tionbetween the reserve and the tracing end of According to the presentinvention, these difthe pen, producing, by capillarity, the flow officulties are eliminated in the following manink from said reservetoward the orifices of the 5 her: holes of the tracing end; on the otherhand, it 5 a. I constitute on the pen a reserve of liquid prevents anexaggerate rate of flow, especially in in the form of a sheet which ishorizontal or the case of pens of big size, the holes of which littleinclined in the direction of the nip of the are very large. ,In thisway, the necessary flow pen, said sheet being of small depth andlarge ofink is obtained chiefly by capillary action 3 area, and being located asclose as possible to rather than gravity. u the plane of marking, so asto. reduce to a minie. The capillary connection between the sheet mumthe height of the reserve above said plane, of liquid that is spread andthe reserve of ink in said height being practically of a value rangingthe pen is facilitated by adapting to the viscosity from one to somemillimeters, according to the of the liquid and also to the nature andstate thickness of the line to be traced. of polishing of the surface onwhich the tracing 35 b. In opposition to what takes place in ordiis totake place the surface of the tracing part nary pens, in which the flowof ink is obtained, that is in contact therewith. In the case of viswhendesired by the operator, by the movement cous liquids, a rough markingsurface or a surof two branches normally juxtaposed, away from faceprovided with small radial. grooves around 0 each other, this ov p od aw o the'holes, or again a surface covered with skin *0 i 50 and gravityhas but a negligible efiect in con- Hquid due to the action ofcapillarity, and or a net of suitable mesh size, prevents themarkpecially of gravity, due to the considerable inmg Surface fromScraping on th urfa e of clination of the pen, one of the improvementspaper thus ti g any capillary connecaccording to the present inventionconsists in tion it permits liquid to flow freely and producing the flowof the of 1iquid.f without excess-onto the tracing plane.

. the pen under the effect of h suctmn of the 1151' 1. Finally in orderto facilitate cleaning after 111d already spread on the surface ofpaper, in t th d such manner that the flow of liquid thus obtained h 9 abeen used a'nd 0 ensure e goo is due nearly wholly to the action ofcapillarityv operation and presfrvatlon of the the Screen abovementioned 1s made removable.

sequence of the low height of the reserve as above In clarify thedescription d t mentioned. In this way, the flow is proportional avoidany misund s the parts t to the area of liquid spread by the tracingend, stitute the pen are defined as follows:

and it is stopped when the stream is cut off, that The marking pad isthe end of the pen in is to say when the pen is lifted. contact with thetracing plane. l

The pen body is the substantially horizontal partcontaining the reserveof ink.

The screen is the element, preferably in the form of a curved blade,which controls the flow of ink toward the tracing part.

The shaft is the semi-cylindrical part of the pen that is inserted intothe pen-holder.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafterdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, giving merely byway of example, and in which:

Figs. 1a, lb, 10 and 1d are a vertical sectional view, a part bottomview, a top plan view and edge view respectively, of a first embodimentof the invention;

Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c are similar views, respectively, corresponding toanother embodiment;

Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c are a longitudinal vertical section, a plan View anda horizontal section on the line 30-450, respectively, of still anotherembodiment;

Figs. 4a and 4b are a longitudinal vertical section and a plan view,respectively, of still another embodiment;

Fig. 4c is a detail view showing separately the screens of the pen ofFigs. 4a and 41);

Figs. 5c and 5b are a longitudinal vertical section and a plan view,respectively of still another embodiment;

Figs. 6a and 6b are a longitudinal vertical section and a plan View,respectively, of still another embodiment;

Figs. 7a and 7b are a longitudinal vertical section and a plan view,respectively, of still another embodiment;

Figs. 8a and 8b are a longitudinal vertical section and a plan View,respectively, of still another embodiment;

Fig. 8c is a corresponding view of the end of the end of the pen, thescreen and the tracing part being removed;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of still another embodiment;

Fig. l0 is a section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9 and Fig. 11 is asection on the line II-4| of Fig. 10;

Fig. l2 is a plan view of a big size. pen made according to the presentinvention;

Fig. 13 is a sectional View on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12;

Figs. 14.- and 15 are corresponding longitudinal vertical sections;

Fig. 16 is a bottom view corresponding to the last mentioned embodiment;

Fig. 17a. is a plan view of another embodiment;

Fig. 171) is a partial side view;

Figs. 17c and 17d are a corresponding axial section and plan View,respectively.

Figs. 1a, 1b and 10 on the one hand, and 2a, 2b and 20 on the otherhand, show, on an enlarged scale, the essential elements of the penaccording to the present invention, that is to say the pen body i,carrying the marking pad 2, and the screen 3 fitted above said body.Figs. 1a, 1b and 1c relate to the case of a pen tracing lines by rubbingof its end upon the surface of paper. Figs. 2a 2b and 2c relate to thecase of a pen tracing the desired figure by pressure of the point. Inboth cases, the marking pad is in the form of a cylindrical or prismaticbody of very low height, of vertical axis, the lateral wall of which isprolonged on one side by the body of the pen. The base of this body isin the form of any plane geometrical figure, or of any other figure madeof straight or curved elements the of the tracing part.

whole of which reproduces a sign or a symbol. This body is provided withvertical holes 4 extending throughout it, the number and section of saidholes being in proportion with the area of the base and the viscosity ofthe inking liquid. Small grooves 5 of suitable size, sufiiciently smallfor avoiding any possibility of modifying the pattern reproduced by themarking pad, are provided in the under surface thereof, radiating romthe orifices of the above mentioned holes so as to facilitate the iiowof the liquid along the tracing paper or other surface and to avoid anyscraping action.

The marking pad thus described can be obtained by cutting from a metalsheet, by stamping of an eyelet, or again by winding of a metallic sheetor wire so as to form a cylinder having a vertical axis and the base ofwhich is of any shape.

The'body of the pen is constituted by a plate I of large area, extendingto the rear of the marking pad 2, in such manner that the plane of thepen body is substantially horizontal and is at a distance from the loweroutflow orifice 4 of the marking pad which ranges from 1 to 3millimeters according to the size of the pen.

The screen 3 is made, in its essential part, where it is in contact withthe inking liquid, of a flexible blade cut into a shape such that itcovers exactly the body of the pen and the marking pad thereof. Thisscreen forms, together with these elements a very sharp dihedral anglethe apex of which coincides with the upper orifice or orifices Owing toits movable connection with the remainder .of the body, this screen cancover the body of the pen or it can be moved apart therefrom so as topermit cleaning.

All the embodiments which will now be described, whatever be theconnection of the shaft with the body or with the screen present thesame characteristic features as above stated.

As for themeans for connecting the shaft with the pen body, they may bemade in various manners, for instance as shown by Figs. 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b,7a, and 7b.

Figs. 5a and 52) show a connecting arrangement constituted by a stampedpart I connecting with the necessary rigidity the rear of the body andthe shaft M. The flexible screen 3 is fixed to the pen-holder and it maybe superposed to the pen body by a ring slidable parallelly to the shaftand which applies said flexible screen against it.

In the embodiment of Figs. 6a and 6b, the connection between the body Iand the shaft 24 is devised in such manner as to give a certainelasticity to the pen body, the end of which forms two parallel elementsI and 8, the latter being capable to trace lines either together orseparately according to the manner in which the pen is held by theoperator. In this case, screens and 3 cover their respective pen bodiesI and 8, or can be moved aside, by lateral pivoting about pins 6 rivetedto said bodies.

Figs. 7a and 7b show the connection of body i with shaft 24 arranged insuch manner as to permit of turning the pen body in any directionwhatever. For this purpose, the pen body carries, near the marking pad,a bridge 22 on which a threaded rod 25 is fixed. The shaft 24, bent at21, is provided with an eye adapted to fit on said rod, and it is fixedthereon by means of a milled nut 23. In this case, the screen 3 isinserted from the rear and fixed on the rear one of these combinations.

edge 26 of the body by a portion 26 thereof acting as a clip.

However, although the embodiments above de scribed permit of obtainingsatisfactory results,

' I have found that it is particularly advantageous to utilize anarrangement in which the horizontal pen body I is connected to the shaft24 through two branches 23 which extend laterally from said shaft.

Figs. 3a., 3b and 30 show an embodiment of this kind. The two branches28 are connected to the body I at their ends, near the marking pad 2,the angle they make therewith being approximately 50. At the rear, at26, the body is slightly bent upwardly, so as to prevent this end of thepen from rubbing on paper when writing. Between the branches 28, theshaft carries two lugs 29 and 30, cut and shaped so as to form a supportfor screen 3.

The screen such as above described is prolonged toward the front by anarrow portion 9, constituting an operating finger, curved into acircular are, at the levelof lugs 29-3I3 so as to form a cylinder I0 ofhorizontal axis the ends of which fit on two cylindrical projections IIcarried by said lugs 29, 3E], as shown by Fig. 30.

Of course, within the scope of the invention, I may obtain amultiplicity of combinations by juxtaposition of elements abovedescribed. For instance, multiple elements may be grouped into a singlepen or they may be mounted side by side, with suitable intervals betweenthem. These elements may eventually come into play either simultaneouslyor separately, by the action of prings or under the effect of their ownelasticity under the effect of the pressure exerted by the operator.

By way of example, Figs. 4a, 4b and 40 show The body of the pen isconstituted by two elements I and I juxtaposed and connected together atthe rear, at 26. One of the elementary bodies I is fixed and connectedto the shaft 24 through two branches 23 as in the embodiment just abovedescribed. The other elementary body, I, is, laterally, in overhangingposition with respect to the first body and its marking pad 2 projectsdownwardly with respect to the marking pad 2 of. the fixed body. In viewof the elasticity of the metal that is employed, when the pressureexerted by the operator varies, only one, or both, of the marking padscan come into contact with the paper surface, for tracing either oneline or two juxtaposed lines. Each body is fitted with its respectivescreen, 3 or 3, said screens being pivoted about a common horizontal pinIII, carried by two supports I I carried by the rear part 26 of the penbody.

Only the screen 3 of the fixed body carries an operating finger 9. Theother screen 3' is driven by the first screen owing to the provision ofa projection I 3 extending laterally above the adjacent screen.

Of course, the above described embodiment characterized by a unilateralarrangement of the part 2 and the tracing plane 32, especially in orderto permit of writing on hard and polished surfaces. The marking pad 2above described is fixed on the end of the pen body I and housed in anaperture 33 provided for this purpose. 0wing to the flanges 34 formed onits periphery, the marking pad 2 bears upon the edges 35 of the aperture33 of the pen body, stretching between itself and the periphery of saidaperture, under the pressure of a pin 36, a piece of very thin skin orof a woven fabric l5. Fig. 8c shows the end apertured at 33, the screenand the marking pad 2 being removed. The screen is identical to that ofthe fixed body of the preceding embodiment. However, in the case of bigsize pens, it may be provided, as shown by Fig.

8a, with asupplementary reservoir I4 in communication with the lowerrecess I2 through a hole I3, adjusted by means of a needle screw I4.

In Figs. 9 to 11, the hole 4 is considerably larger and I insert thereina simple or multiple pad It, the matter thereof being soaked with ink orpaint and the pad acting, among other things, as a consequence of thefact that it forms a plastic intermediate resting upon the surface whichreceives the inscriptions.

In the modifications shown by Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive, which areespecially advantageous in the case of big size pens and multipletracing parts, which increase the possibilities of tracings obtainedwith a single pen, I have shown at i! a fixed rectangular marking pad,containing a second tracing part I8, of cylindrical shape, whichprojects more or less under the action of spring I9. The liquid inletholes 2i} and H feed liquid to the corresponding marking pads,respectively. With this arrangement, the operator can at will eithertrace a line of a width equal to the whole of the marking pad or a lineof a width equal to the diameter of cylinder I3.

This pen is further provided with a bridgeshaped part 22 permitting,owing to nut 23, a variable orientation of the pen.

Figs, 17a, 17b and 17c show a modification which permits of writing inan oblique or vertical plane.

Fig. 171) shows the frame for fixing the net on the marking pad. In thisembodiment of my invention, the pen body I and the screen 3 are of thesame shape and position as above described. The marking pad is alsoconstituted by a prism having a base of any shape intended to be appliedon the paper surface and to cooperate therewith. But this prism is cutin such manner that its lower base 31 is parallel to the surface to bewritten on and it is. laterally connected to the pen body as in theother embodiments.

The ink feed holes 4 provided in the marking pad 2 are directedobliquely and start, as in the other embodiments, close to the apex ofthe dihedral angle made by screen 3 and body I. The screen 3 pivotsabout an axis 5 carried by two lugs 29 provided at the rear and on eachside of the pen body. The connection of the body I with the shaft 24 isobtained by means of two branches III which laterally prolong said shaftand hold the pen body I from below on either side and close to themarking pad 2, making an angle of about 60 with the horizontal plane.The interposition of a textile net I5 between the marking pad 2 and thetracing plane 32 is obtained by swinging about axis I2 a frame II whichcovers the marking pad 2 by applying the fabric against it. The frame iskept in position and the fabric is stretched by the action of twosprings M, bearing upon two notches l5 of the tracing part with whichthis frame is assembled.

Of course, the pen might be made of any suitable material other than ametal, such for instance as a plastic material, wood, glass, and thelike.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosedwhat I deem to be practical and efiicient embodiments of the presentinvention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limitedthereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition,and form of the parts Without departing from the principle of thepresent invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanyingclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A reservoir pen which comprises, in combination, a pen body ofgeneral fiat shape forming the bottom of the ink reservoir, a screencarried over the bottom, to form the ceiling of the reservoir and makinga sharp dihedral angle with the pen body, a shaft for fixation of thepen to a penholder, said shaft being in such angular relation with thepen body that said body be in substantially horizontal position when thepenholder is held in the normal angular position for writing, a markingpad at the free end of the pen body, slightly projecting from the undersurface thereof, and means for conveying ink by capillarity from the inkreservoir onto the surface to be marked, through the marking pad.

2. A reservoir pen which comprises, in combination, a pen body ofgeneral flat shape forming the bottom of the ink reservoir, a screenmovably carried over said bottom to form the ceiling of the reservoirand making a sharp dihedral angle with the pen body, a shaft forfixation of the pen to a penholder, said shaft being in such an angularrelation with the pen body that said body be in substantially horizontalposition when the penholder is held in the normal angular position forwriting, a marking pad at the free end of the pen body, projecting fromthe under surface thereof so as to hold said surface at a distanceranging approximately from 1 to 4 millimeters from the surface to bemarked, and means for conveying ink by capillarity from the inkreservoir onto the surface to be marked, through the marking pad.

3. A reservoir pen which comprises, in combination, a pen body ofgeneral flat shape forming the bottom of the ink reservoir, a screenmade of a bent metal sheet movably carried over said bottom, forming theceiling of the reservoir and making a sharp dihedral angle with the penbody, having its apex at the free end of the pen body, a shaft forfixation of the pen to a penholder, said shaft being shaped and bent sothat the pen body lies in substantially horizontal position when thepenholder is held in its normal tilted position for writing, a markingpad at the end of the pen body, projecting from the under surfacethereof to hold said surface at a small distance from the surface tobemarked, and means for causing the liquid in the reservoir to flow bycapillarity onto the surface to be marked, across the marking pad.

4. A reservoir pen which comprises, in combination, a pen body ofgeneral flat shape form ing the bottom of the ink reservoir, a ceilingfor the reservoir formed of a bent metal sheet movably carried by thebottom, and making a sharp dihedral angle with the pen body, a shaft forfixation of the pen to a penholder in such a manner that the bottom ofthe ink reservoir lies in a substantially horizontal position when thepenholder is held in its normal tilted position for writing, a multiplemarking pad at the end of the pen body, said body being elasticallydeformable so as to permit of applying either one or both marking padson the surface to be marked.

5. A pen according to claim 4, in which said marking pads are movablevertically with respect to one another, and in which means are adaptedto be operated by manual pressure for causing at least one of said padsto project downwardly.

PIERRE CHOUFFET.

